BMT graduation ceremonies opening for guests July 22

  • Published
  • 502nd ABW and 37th TRW Public Affairs

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – A limited number of family and friends will once again be able to watch their loved ones graduate from Air Force Basic Military Training here beginning with the ceremony scheduled for July 22.

“We’re excited to welcome back visitors to Lackland and the greater San Antonio area to witness our Air and Space Force’s newest members start their military journey,” said Brig. Gen. Caroline Miller, Joint Base San Antonio commander. “Recent changes to our local health protection conditions and CDC guidance have contributed to this decision. We have assessed COVID-19 impacts and associated risk factors and have determined we are in a good place to welcome families back.”  

The Air Force suspended guest attendance to mass gatherings, to include Basic Military Training graduations, in March 2020. The graduation ceremony and activities beginning in July will be different than they were prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We truly understand the personal value and meaning attending graduation events in person has to our trainees’ families,” said Col. Rockie K Wilson, 37th Training Wing commander. “While our ceremony will look a little different, we want families to experience the culmination of building the next generation of Airmen and Guardians, and to share that experience with others so we can continue to inspire and recruit young men and women to join our ranks.”

Opening day is subject to change if local conditions and COVID-19 protocols change.

BMT graduations are currently scheduled for every Thursday and will include the following changes:

  • Each graduating trainee will be allowed to invite two guests only (infants and children are considered a guest).    
  • All visitors must be fully vaccinated (last shot plus 14 days) according to current CDC guidelines, and must show proof of their vaccination (i.e., the vaccine card); photos or copies will not be accepted.
  • All guests of trainees – including Department of Defense ID card holders – MUST be on the visitor list to enter the ceremony. No exceptions will be made. Trainees will provide their guests the required information to access the installation and ceremony.
  • Graduates will have the opportunity for on, or possibly off-installation, liberty following the ceremony to spend time with their guests.  In order to mitigate risk to other trainees and cadre, trainees will be required to be fully vaccinated to participate in off-installation liberty.  All other trainees will be able to spend that same time with their families on JBSA-Lackland.

Information about graduation and COVID-19 protocols will be posted to https://www.basictraining.af.mil/ and the BMT Facebook page at www.facebook.com/USAFBMT.  Information will be updated regularly.